tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post247199340041419444..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: The "No Mr. Beck" SeriesBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-15600799733786276202010-12-23T13:42:50.683-07:002010-12-23T13:42:50.683-07:00Yes, this one has been bouncing around here at Ame...Yes, this one has been bouncing around here at American Creation since last March.<br /><br />http://americancreation.blogspot.com/2010/03/because-we-always-need-little.html<br /><br />I had assumed it was a form letter, and it is, but this form was specifically printed with Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States at the top, as folks can see for themselves.<br /><br />http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=22345<br /><br />I find Barton's locution <br /><br /><i>"...this is the explicitly Christian language that President Thomas Jefferson <b>chose</b> to use in official public presidential documents."</i><br /><br />an exaggeration; however, it cannot be strictly said to be false, or a "lie." In some real sense, Jefferson "chose" to use and sign the form letter printed with his own name on it.<br /><br />It appears David Barton himself replied [we can't tell for sure] on this blog back in March in a note to Chris Rodda<br /><br />http://americancreation.blogspot.com/2010/03/david-barton-apparently-responds-to.html<br /><br /><i>"I also want to address the portion of this video clip where Glenn Beck and I very briefly mention the 1807 Thomas Jefferson letter. I did not have the time in that segment to go into detail but if I did, I certainly would have put it in context. I don't presume to think that Mr. Jefferson was a Christian. But I do think it is abundantly clear that he was not an atheist as many history revisionists claim."</i><br /><br />I meself continue to consider this entire issue of small importance, more a product of the culture wars and delegitimization than any sincere search for historical truth, since it revolves around Barton's use of a single word, "chose."<br /><br />Like any advocate, Barton shades the facts toward his preferred light; however, as we see above, he does not claim Jefferson for Christianity.<br /><br />There are far bigger fish to fry. For instance, I haven't nor will I quote Barton on this blog: his previous errors and stance as an advocate have rendered him poisonous to any "neutral" historical discussion. But I did find of interest his take on the often-cited, seldom-discussed 1797 Treaty of Tripoli and its takeaway line <br /><br /><i>The government of the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion.</i><br /><br />However, perhaps there's more to it than the takeaway line.<br /><br />http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=125<br /><br />It's been on my to-do list to fact-check the above essay independently, but I haven't got around to it. Any comment or info would be appreciated. It's surely of far higher importance than the word "chose."Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-9519542148518874582010-12-23T13:41:13.246-07:002010-12-23T13:41:13.246-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.com